Our Story

By 2016, Downtown CREDO had been running a grassroots effort to support social entrepreneurs in Central Florida, collaborating with Rollins College and the Crummer Graduate School of Business. At the same time, Central Florida Foundation launched Entrepreneurs in Action, offering pro-bono consulting to social enterprises and nonprofits seeking earned income strategies.

A group realization emerged: the alchemy of these combined efforts could create world-class support for early-stage social entrepreneurs. With Rollins—an Ashoka Changemaker university—our city and county’s backing, and the catalytic support of powerful Rally Makers, Rally was born as the platform to propel world-changing entrepreneurs to their next steps.

Our History

2017 – Rally’s first Social Enterprise Accelerator cohort launches with 8 Central Florida ventures.

2019 – The accelerator expands nationally, refining its curriculum with tools like the Social Lean Canvas.

2021 – Rally Scale Up debuts, offering alumni a focused path to strengthen revenue and traction.

2024 – Alumni ventures surpass $10M in cumulative earned revenue.

2025 – Fifteenth cohort launches; Living Lab network expands to 12 Central Florida counties.

Since launch, Rally has supported 103 entrepreneurs, helped alumni ventures raise $40M+, and contributed to 650+ jobs created.

Our Evolution

From these grassroots beginnings, Rally has grown into Central Florida’s civic innovation platform—a Living Lab where entrepreneurs, residents, and institutions co-create, test, and scale solutions to the region’s toughest challenges.

Today, Rally is a vibrant ecosystem of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, corporate advocates, and higher education institutions—all working together to address intractable social, economic, and environmental problems by accelerating the growth of world-class social entrepreneurs.

Our Strategy

At Rally, we believe lasting change starts with bold ideas tested in the real world. Our strategy is simple:

• Test What Works – We co-create and pilot solutions with residents, entrepreneurs, and institutions to see what truly makes a difference.

• Scale What Matters – We accelerate ventures with the tools, coaching, and connections they need to grow sustainable, impact-driven businesses.

• Transform Systems – We bring public, private, and community partners together to drive lasting change in health, housing, mobility, sustainability, and economic opportunity.

This approach turns Central Florida into a Living Lab—a place where new ideas are tested locally, proven with evidence, and shared globally.

Our Programs

• Entry Points - We open the door for anyone curious about social innovation. From Intro to Social Entrepreneurship workshops to community challenges that surface neighborhood issues, we make it easy for residents to learn, share, and take action.

• The Core Engine - At the heart of Rally is our Social Enterprise Accelerator—a 16-week program for early-stage entrepreneurs building solutions with social and environmental impact. Fellows gain hands-on coaching, practical frameworks, and access to Rally Makers who open doors to pilots, partnerships, and funding.

  We also run Co-Creation Labs, where residents, civic leaders, corporations, and entrepreneurs come together to design solutions to urgent regional challenges. And through Venture-Led Pilots, we test those ideas in real Central Florida neighborhoods—generating data, outcomes, and community impact.

• Growth Pathways - Innovation doesn’t stop with the accelerator. Our Scale Up program helps alumni strengthen their business models and revenue strategies. Our Alumni Network provides ongoing community and mentorship. And through our Knowledge Hub, we share insights and best practices that others can learn from and replicate.

The Rally Ecosystem

Rally is more than programs—it’s a vibrant ecosystem of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, corporate advocates, and community partners working together to tackle big challenges. By linking ideas with resources and people with purpose, we help Central Florida prove what works, scale what matters, and transform the systems that shape our daily lives.

By The Numbers

What We’ve Done

• Social Ventures Supported (103)

• Program Applications Reviewed (1,067)

• Countries Engaged (12)

• Central Florida Residents Engaged (1490)

Who We’ve Served